Tales told through the ages of quests and curses, enduring love and immeasurable tragedy

"The power of Tolkien's central characters-tragic, cursed Turin; the lovers Beren and Luthien-shines through."-Library Journal

Gathering together two of the most crucial stories in Tolkien's world-those of Tu rin, a hero living under a ruinous family curse, and Lu thien, an elven princess whose love for a mortal man is mirrored ages later in Arwen and Aragorn-The Lays of Beleriand sheds light on the creation of the mythology of Middle-earth.

Journey through darkness with Tu rin Turambar as he searches for his long-missing father in The Lay of the Children of Hu rin, and join Beren and Lu thien on their quest to cut a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown in The Lay of Leithian. Both narratives appear here in alliterative verse and are accompanied by Christopher Tolkien's commentary on the evolution of the history of the Elder Days. Also included is critical analysis by C. S. Lewis of The Lay of Leithian.